Women and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer causes more than 450,000 deaths each year.1 It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women2 and the second-leading cause of cancer death among women.3 If detected early, when the cancer is localized in the breast, five-year survival statistics are approximately 98%.4

1.4 million women globally are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.5

By 2020, there will be over 1.7 million new cases of breast cancer annually.5

In 2009, breast cancer resulted in an economic burden of $28.4 billion.5

Breast cancer forms in the ducts and in the lobules for the breast.3,5,6 Many breast cancers can be estrogen-, progesterone-, or HER-2/neu-positive, which causes the cancer to grow. HER-2/neu positivity is associated with more-aggressive disease, decreased overall survival, and a higher probability of recurrence.6,7